Risk of grass fires high across much of Kansas City area today

A large chunk the Kansas City area faces an extremely high risk of grass fires on Wednesday afternoon, weather officials say.

A Red Flag Warning has been posted for 60 counties in central and eastern Kansas, including the Kansas City metropolitan areas. The warnings generally stretch from late morning to late evening in the Kansas City area.

Winds are expected to reach or surpass 35 miles an hour in gusts. Dry vegetation and low humidity are setting the stage for the fire threat, weather officials say.

“Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and become very difficult to control,” a statement issued by the Wichita branch of the National Weather Service reported. “Outdoor burning is not recommended.”

This story was originally published April 9, 2014 at 8:08 AM with the headline "Risk of grass fires high across much of Kansas City area today."